Chelsea Turn to Schurrle as Moses Talks Hit Rocks

The dream of Nigeria’s Victor Moses to be in Stamford Bridge from next season may hit the rocks as Chelsea have turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen winger Andre Schurrle. They turned their searchlight after Wigan Athletic broke off talks over selling the Nigerian attacker.

The Blues are keen on adding at least one more winger to their squad this summer, despite the addition of Eden Hazard and Marko Marin for a combined £38 million, and manager Roberto Di Matteo has drawn up a list of four targets.

Wigan flyer Moses is the priority, but Chelsea were warned off the player last week by Latics chairman Dave Whelan, who has already snubbed Di Matteo’s £4 million offer.

Moses has told Wigan he is desperate to quit the DW Stadium before the start of the season, but Whelan is standing firm, blaming agent Tony Finnigan for trying to sell a player who owes everything to the club.

Finnigan adamantly rejects the claim, and told the Northern Echo, “All I will say on this matter is that how did Victor Moses end up at Wigan, when he could have gone to Manchester City? Who took him to Wigan?”

By last weekend Wigan were reportedly preparing a bid for Nigerian and Everton striker Victor Anichebe as they grew increasingly resigned to losing Moses.

The Latics were said to be eyeing up the powerful £6m-rated Anichebe, who has struggled to establish himself at Goodison Park since breaking into the first team in 2006 as an 18-year-old. Wigan chiefs were planning for life after Moses, who had attracted strong interest from Chelsea but all that may have changed now as event continues to unfold.

The row between the two parties is set to continue this week, but Chelsea have now cooled their interest and will instead look into a deal for Leverkusen star Schurrle.

Schurrle is currently away with the Germany squad at Euro 2012, where he is being monitored by Chelsea scouts, who are considering testing the water with an £7 million bid.

Leverkusen are certain to want more – closer to the £15 million bracket – but the Blues have only been following the player closely for a few months, and are unlikely to want to pay anything near that figure.

A fast, agile and technical winger, Schurrle was subject of tentative Chelsea interest last summer, but his stock has risen since, and AC Milan are now rumoured to be keeping tabs on the 21-year-old.